Stepping into multiplayer for casual players, or players who are new to the game, is much like being thrown to the wolves. The difference between the single player and the multiplayer for any given game is vast, and it takes a certain amount of fortitude to gain the skills neccesary to be succesful in a multiplayer setting.
Thankfully, designers are preempting these potential humps for casual and new players. Sledgehammer Games general manager Glen Schofield claims that the latest Modern Warfare is "absolutely" slated to be the most accesible Call of Duty to date.
"It's one of the things we've been hearing: 'I don't want to jump into a game with a bunch of teenagers and get trash talked all the time. I want to actually have fun and get in there.' And a lot of people like that type of gameplay, but we're trying to make it so you can customise it for yourself."
Schofield cites the COD Elite service as the facilitator, as it allows you to connect with like-minded or similarly-skilled players, as well as the survival mode, which allows you to play on multiplayer levels in a co-op setting.